Sportshour

Anne Seel made motor-racing history last year when she became the only Swede to ride both a motorcycle and a car in the Dakar Rally. Very few women take part in the Dakar Rally in South America and Seel wants to encourage more women to get involved and has set up a women's only rally course just outside of Stockholm. Game of Thrones: We visit the once run down seaside resort of Portrush where thanks to the unusual combination of Game of Thrones and the game of golf, the town has been rejuvenated..Ballet Football West Ham take on Southampton on Sunday. It's not however West Ham's only fixture of the weekend. On Saturday night and in cooperation with the Sadler's Wells theatre company, there's a community dance production inspired by football. 'Home Turf' features 93 performers aged between 6 and their late 80's including community dancers and football fans!Homophbia Following on from a report released this week about homophobic abuse by football fans we investigate what it’s like to be an LGBT football fan a

Is drone racing the future of sport? It’s about to go mainstream with television deals to show a new drone league. The sport appeals to so many because according to Drone.TV presenter Skip Fredricks "You're truly immersed... It's a virtual reality competition, in the real world!"TUEs Carefully: The illegal release of information relating to athletes use of therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs) has led to wider questions about the role and effectiveness of Wada. Journalist and author Philip Hersh has covered 18 Olympiads and says this latest incident highlights that the “global anti-doping system is broken”.Phishnets: Whilst the recent Wada hack has highlighted the significance of cybercrime in sport, it is by no means the first occasion (A St. Louis Cardinals executive was sentenced in July to four years for hacking an opposing team) and it won’t be the last. James Hampshire helped develop the cyber-defence for the London 2012 Olympics and is an expert in the field. He has been looking at the increasing threat of

We preview the world’s two biggest football games this weekend. Will Jose and Pep play nicely as the red half and blue half of Manchester collide? Who has the psychological upper hand? North of the border, as the Old Firm derby returns, we look at why there appears to be little softening in the underlying sectarian divide that causes arguably football’s most fearsome and ugly rivalry.3D Printer Paralympian When Germany's Denise Schindler peddles up to the start line at the Rio Paralympics, she will be unique amongst cyclists she is competing against. Denise will be using a prosthesis made on a low cost 3D printer! She is not only hoping for gold, but that this advancement will revolutionise para sport.The Nordic Nomad: The World Nomad Games took place in the Kyrgyz Republic this week with more than 40 nations represented. It celebrated traditional sports of Central Asia like Kok Boru (akin to polo played with a goat carcass). We are joined by Stefan Sekej who won Norway’s first ever World Nomadic Games Medal

Piotr Malachowski won silver in the discus at the Rio Olympics just a couple of weeks ago however he has since auctioned off his medal to raise funds for Olek, a three-year-old boy suffering with a rare form of cancer.Colink Kaepernick: The Eye Of A Media Storm When San Francisco 49ers’ quarterback Colin Kaepernick decided not to stand during the national anthem it brought back into the spotlight the role sport stars have in highlighting social issues. Much of the media coverage painted Kaepernick as disrespectful, but did an industry dominated by white men affect the telling of Kaperneck’s story? We hear from Marc Spears, the Chairman of the National Association of Black Journalists Sports Task Force.Monster Trucks: We go behind the scenes of Monster Jam, the popular motor sporting event. The competition sees the massive trucks fly through the air, crush smaller cars and spin fast in circles. It can be dangerous for the drivers as the trucks are built 'to crash'.Brazil Football Expects… Again We explore the

Poor ticket sales, finance issues, Russian athletes banned. The Paralympic movement is facing a testing time ahead of the Rio Games. We hear from Tatanya McFadden, the American parathlete who has reportedly pledged $1000 out of her own pocket to buy tickets for Brazilian children. And, we hear from disappointed Russian Paralympian Irina Vertinskaya, and Lord Holmes who was the director of Paralympic Integration at the London Games in 2012.Struggling to Cope: Life After Football Regi Blinker, the former Dutch international who played in the English Premier League for Sheffield Wednesday and in Scotland for Celtic, retired 13 years ago. Since then he founded and continues to run the successful Life After Football magazine. The publication is dedicated to the professional game in which the worlds of fashion, art and football collide. The Problematic State of Aussie Sport: A record rugby union defeat to the All Blacks, swept by Sri Lanka in the cricket and an Olympic medal haul lower than London 2012, an Olympiad

Adam Nelson won the shot put at the Athens Olympics in 2004, but only received his gold medal a few weeks ago. Why? Because of the advancements in drug testing it was recently proved that the original gold medallist, Yuriy Bilonog of Ukraine had taken performance enhancing drugs. So did the recent ceremony in which Adam was presented gold represent justice, or can nothing make up for being robbed of his moment in Athens twelve years ago?Premier League Problems: With 2 of every 5 Premier League players facing bankruptcy within 5 years of retiring, we look at some of the difficulties they face in adapting to a new life without football. We speak to Brede Hangeland about his hopes and fears for his future. He decided to hang up his boots in the summer having played for Fulham and Crystal Palace in the Premier League. Alan Gernon author of "Retired: What Happens to Footballers When the Game's Up" also joins us.Olympics: Are They Worth It? Twelve years ago the Olympic Games came home to Greece. They took place at

Maarten van der Weijden tells us his journey of battling back from leukaemia to claim Olympic gold in the 10 km open water competition at the 2008 Beijing Games.On Your Bike At London 2012 Team GB dominated the track cycling winning seven golds. Four years on and some of the big stars like Sir Chris Hoy are no longer involved. But in this highly technical - and hi-tech - sport, what comes first… the talent of the rider or the engineering of the bike? We’ve been given exclusive access to a factory in Oxfordshire where some of the key components for Team GB's bikes are produced.Olympics: London Legacy? In August 2012 London was hosting the Olympics. The English capital won the Games on a promise of regenerating one of the most deprived parts of the UK, but four years on only a tiny fraction of the jobs promised have materialised. So is the legacy of the London Games as strong as many think?The Men in Black The English Premier League season is set to begin with plenty of focus on the new managers and star signin

Whatever sporting achievements are made in Rio, they are unlikely to surpass the significance of those created by one man exactly 80 years ago. When Jessie Owens won FOUR gold medals in front of Adolf Hitler at the Berlin Olympics of 1936 he didn't only create a record breaking sporting achievement, he left an indelible image for the world that is as powerful today as it was back then. We speak to two of his daughters Marlene and Beverly Owens, on their father and his legacy."Rock climbing saved my Life" In the week climbing was announced as an Olympic sport for 2022 we head to Voss about 400 km east of the capital Norwegian capital Oslo. That’s where extreme Athlete Jamie Leibert was fresh from climbing up, and then throwing himself off a mountain! Jamie had it tough growing up, he was addicted to drugs and alcohol, and spent time in prison. He tells us how "rock climbing saved his life" and how he’s encouraging others to follow him.No More Queue for the Loo: Whilst most of us will be fixated with the actio

At the age of 42, boxer Tony Moran became the WBF World Cruiserweight Champion of the World but it's his journey to this sporting pinnacle that really sets him apart. Whilst recovering from a fractured skull Tony became homeless and having lost his job his family life fell apart. So how has he managed to recover and reach new heights?Rugby's Great Survivor... Next stop Rio! She has not only overcome a broken neck but she has also survived cancer. Now Jillion Potter, is heading to Rio to compete at the Olympics! The USA Women’s Eagles star has been telling us how she overcame seemingly insurmountable issues to make it to the Rio GamesAfrica’s Leadership Goal: The ‘Goal’ programme helps empower girls from low-income areas all over the world with the skills to improve their lives and those in their community. To mark its 10 year anniversary we follow three members of the Liverpool Ladies football team, captain Gemma Bonner, Martha Harris and Kate Longhurst to South Africa and Zambia to meet the young women the

Duathlete Chris Mosier is not only the first transman to make a men's US National Team; he also successfully campaigned for the International Olympic Committee to change their policy on transgender athletes. The rule changes brought in this year now mean athletes like Chris can represent their country at the Olympic Games.Pakistani Pain: A population of nearly 200,000,000 and not one has automatically qualified for any of the twenty eight disciplines at the Rio Olympics! Not even the hockey team who have won 8 of the 10 medals in the country's Olympic history, have qualified this time around. Instead, Pakistan will send 7 athletes in 4 sports all of whom have been invited to take part, wild card entries if you like. So why is Pakistani Olympic sport in such a terrible state? Manzoor ul Hassan gives us his thoughts. He won Olympic hockey bronze for Pakistan in 1976 and coached the team at the ’88 Games. Olympic Winners: Aya Medany, a modern pentathlete from Egypt is the latest in our series looking at six wome

Her family think she is crazy; nonetheless Marathon runner Nary Ly will become Cambodia's first female long distance Olympian in Rio. In a country where the prevailing attitude encourages fair skin, women’s sport is discouraged because training outside tans the skin. For 42-year-old Ly, who escaped the Khmer Rouge to France as an 8 year old, it marks an important step for Cambodia as attitudes to women’s sport modernise albeit slowly. Dope This week Rory McIlroy says golf must improve its drug-testing regime as he could "get away with" doping as it stands. We discuss whether all sports should have to reach the same standard of testing and why they don’t currently compare. Guests include Professor Bob Steward author of "Rethinking Drug Use in Sport: Why the War will Never be Won".Cheeky! A group of "night runners" in Kenya's capital city Nairobi want their nocturnal activities to be recognised as a sport. But a section of residents there, and the country's government, think it should be banned. Why? Well they

We are live from Wimbledon on Ladies Final day looking at the remarkable career of Serena Williams, and sorting Wimbledon fact from fiction with ‘Devil Wears Prada’ author Laura Weisberger. Her latest book is set in the world of professional tennis.Mum Won’t Cramp My Olympic Style: In Georgia one family is particularly excited about the upcoming Rio Olympics. Why? Well, this family will make history by becoming the first mother-and-son to compete at the same Games! We meet Nino Salukvadze and her son Tsotne Machavariani, who will compete side by side in the shooting competition.The Alan Green Lecture: Euro 2016 the Real Winners: Alan Green gives us his considered thoughts on how Euro 2016 will be remembered; what worked, what didn’t and who the real winners and losers were. The Curse of the Winning Goal: Steve Crossman hears the cautionary but ultimately uplifting tale of Bruno Bellone, the first Frenchman to score a winning goal in a European Championships final. Later, his life spiralled into debt, he was e

Following the withdrawal of several golfers from this year’s Olympic competition, including the world number one Jason Day, we ask if golf should be an Olympic discipline at all. Former pro Dottie Pepper tells us that it shouldn’t and that “the Olympics needs golf more than golf need the Olympics”, all of which is likely to annoy the chairman of the Professional Squash Association Ziad Al-Turki, who joins us too.Formula One: The Archduke of the Austrian Grand Prix When Austria played Hungary at Euro 2016 we spoke to Ferdinand Habsburg, who just happens to not only be the Archduke of Austria but also the Crown Prince of Hungary. But Ferdinand's real passion is motor sport, and at 19 years of age he's already competing in Formula 2.0. So with the Austria Grand Prix on Sunday - we've brought the Archduke of Austria, or Ferdinand as he lets me call him - back to the studio.Pat Summit: The Life and Legacy of a Legend Legendary basketball coach Pat Summitt died this week at the age of 64, five years after she wa

A stolen Olympic gold medal has been found by a six-year-old girl. Olympian Joe Jacobi had appealed to thieves who stole his 1992 Olympic gold medal to return it and set up a website www.stolenmedal.com. He was contact through the site by the family of six-year-old girl Chloe Smith who had found the medal whilst out for a walk with her father. Jacobi was out enjoying a meal with his family when thieves broke into his car and stole his computer bag which also contained the gold medal. The American canoeist won the gold at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. From Brexit to Prexit? What effect will Britain’s decision to leave the European Union have on sport, and in particular the English Premier League? We discuss the implications of Britain’s decision with Joe Hall sports business analyst at City A.M and Simon Chadwick, Professor of Sports Enterprise at Salford University.UFC's New Champion: MMA, for some the sport represents the pinnacle of disciplined and controlled aggression, for others it's a brutal free for

Training to take part in the Olympics is an unforgiving business - years of hard work easily undone by injury, loss of form or even confidence. But for American middle distance runner Sarah Brown, her road to Rio took something of a more pronounced bump. A surprise pregnancy! In March, just five months before Rio 2016, Sarah gave birth, having continued to train throughout her pregnancy. Her goal is to make it to the Olympics by qualifying at the US trials in July.Hooray for Houry: Meet Houry Gebeshian. By day she delivers babies, by night she trains herself for the Rio Olympics! Houry, who in August will be Armenia’s first female Olympic Gymnast, takes us through what by anyone’s standards is a busy day!The Kallur Comeback: On the face of it there was nothing too remarkable about Sweden’s Susanna Kallur 5th place finish in 100m hurdles at the Diamond League in Stockholm this week… Even so she completed a lap of honour after the race, accompanied by her three-year-old daughter. However considering this was he

Austria play Hungary on Tuesday, so who do you support if you are the Archduke of Austria, but also the Crown Prince of Hungary? We put that exact question to His Imperial and Royal Highness Ferdinand Zvonimir von Habsburg-Lothringen, Archduke of Austria, Crown Prince of Hungary, Bohemia and Croatia.Irish Double For the first time Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland will appear together at the finals of a major football tournament. In the past, most of the team's support has come from the Protestant community. Many people from nationalist areas will be supporting the Republic of Ireland. We look at the efforts to tackle sectarianism.Albania We spend time with the lowest ranked team at the Euro 2016, Albania. They start against Switzerland with several of the Swiss team eligible to play for Albania and vice-versa. There is even the prospect of brothers lining up against each other.Owens and Ali to Le Bron and Williams Muhammad Ali's death has brought back into focus the power sport has to affect wider

We hear from those who have had their lives influenced by Muhammad AliPhoto: Muhammad Ali in the ring Credit: Getty Images

As Jose Mourinho takes up his new position as manager of Manchester United we speak to a man has also managed Chelsea and Real Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti. He tells us what he would do if were taking control of Manchester United. He also reveals his year off from football has been busy including making his Hollywood film debut in Star Trek movie Pep Talk In the interest of fairness we profile Pep Guardiola, the man who will take on Mouriniho from the other side of Manchester. We hear from the Spaniards father, plus author Guillem Balagué.The Future of Indian Football We hear about the life changing work of the Indian based Young Champs Academy. Their full time residential scholarship has given children aged between 11 and 14 a dream footballing opportunity and for some saved them from a life on the streets. We meet the team and coaches on their tour of English Premier League clubs.Sporting Witness… In 1976, the US boxing team took five gold medals at the Montreal Olympics, defeating many of their Soviet and Cuban

We’re celebrating the FA Cup Final by delving into the competitions history and giving more than a passing nod to Saturday’s match. Invested comedians Kevin Day (Crystal Palace fan) takes on Justin Moorhouse (Manchester United supporter) in a bid to persuade as many neutrals as possible that it’s their team they should be rooting for! If You Manage the Team, You Have to Visit! Be careful who you choose when starting your next Football Manager game. We meet the man who feels the need to make an 8,000 kilometre journey to footballing outposts to visit the clubs he picks on his computer game… From Macclesfield to Yeovil.No Honour In Killings We meet two former members of the Swedish national taekwondo team. Arkan Asaad and Alán Ali, two Iraqi-born Kurdish Swedes, have transitioned from competing in taekwondo to empowering young people. Both are now heading awareness-raising campaigns about how honour culture affects girls and women.STRIKE! Should ten-pin bowling be an Olympic discipline? If it were, Britain woul

We hear the powerfully moving story of former British welterweight boxing champion Kevin Lueshing. His formative years growing up in South London were dominated by physical and sexual abuse, but it was boxing that saved him and allowed him to shine a light on abuse.Olympics in 3D German cyclist Denise Schindler will be attempting to go one better than her silver at the London 2012 Paralympics. She hopes to pick up gold in Rio with a prosthesis made using a 3D Printer! She will be explaining how it works and how it could revolutionise the lives of millions of amputees who are unable to afford prosthesis, or suffer from ill-fitting ones.The World's Most Adventurous Man We speak to adventurer Martin Frey who has become the first person to successfully scale the seven highest summits on earth - and sail the seven seas. He compares and contrasts the challenges.Wee Dram Chris Cusiter, fresh from retiring from professional rugby, tells us about his plans to change the way sports stars celebrate, by swapping champa